The conversation between a father and daughter reflects their longing for Antakya’s hummus after the devastating 2023 earthquakes. A visit reveals the destruction and loss of life, yet also the resilience of the community through food, as they mourn together while reviving culinary traditions. Antakya remains a symbol of survival and collective memory.
Category Archive: Food and Loss
Nineteenth-century Jewish American cookbooks, especially Hannah Glasse’s The Art of Cookery, reflected the interplay of Jewish and American identities, showcasing Judeo-Spanish culinary traditions. As Jewish life shifted from public to private spheres due to persecution, women became vital in preserving cultural practices and recipes, vital for maintaining community identity amidst evolving norms.
The Klamath River, vital for ecosystems and Indigenous cultures, underwent a historic dam removal, enhancing salmon populations essential for ecological health. This restoration reflects deep tribal connections to the river, promoting food sovereignty. Challenges from agricultural pollution and climate change threaten these systems, emphasizing the need for environmental stewardship and sustainable food practices.
Climate change is threatening traditional foods like wheat, apples, and wine, which hold deep cultural significance and intertwines food with rituals of mourning and community. Food traditions must adapt to promote sustainability and actively protect diverse foodways for future generations.
Mangalore Stores in Bengaluru provide a unique cultural and nostalgic experience for migrants. Offering regional food products, they facilitate connections to the Mangalore region while addressing identity shifts. These stores create a welcoming environment, enabling customers to reconnect with their roots through familiar tastes and community engagement, becoming vital to urban place-making.
In “Caro Diario,” Nanni Moretti illustrates Salina’s changing landscape and the decline of the ciciredda fishing industry, once vital to its economy. The Tobia family’s legacy in local fishing transformed the community, but climate change has diminished fish populations, forcing a shift towards tourism. The story highlights environmental challenges and the need for sustainable practices.
Isabelle Bishop Wednesday, November 6, 2024, dripped with dread. I woke up already aware of the results of […]
The tragic history of the Banda Islands, focusing on the 17th-century massacre is tied to the nutmeg trade. Thematic contemplation of memory, pain, and cultural identity as descendants gather to reconnect with their heritage. The experience intertwines food with collective trauma, highlighting the complexity of remembrance.
For this 2025 special issue, the Graduate Journal of Food Studies seeks submissions exploring the intersections of food and loss. We invite graduate students and early career scholars across all disciplines to reflect on how loss—individual, collective, ecological, cultural, or otherwise—reshapes foodways, agricultural practices, and gastronomic imaginaries.
gradfoodstudies.org 